Final answer:
Descriptive relativism, which notes that different cultures have varying moral codes, does not necessarily imply metaethical relativism, which states that these variable moral systems are equally valid. The former is an anthropological observation, while the latter is a philosophical stance on the nature of moral truth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Does Descriptive Relativism Imply Metaethical Relativism?
The statement that descriptive relativism necessarily implies metaethical relativism is false. Descriptive relativism is an anthropological observation that different cultures have different moral codes and practices. In contrast, metaethical relativism is the philosophical claim that these different moral practices are equally valid, as morality is relative to cultural or individual standards and there are no objective moral truths.
Normative Ethical Relativism, a subset of metaethical relativism, posits that moral rightness and wrongness depend on the norms of a particular society and that there are no absolute moral standards. However, descriptive relativism, by itself, does not commit to the philosophical claim that all cultural moral systems are equally correct; it merely acknowledges that moral diversity exists.
While pluralism and relativism are important for understanding the variety of moral systems, they do not determine the truth or justification of these systems, which is the main concern of metaethical relativism. Thus, while descriptive relativism might be informed by observations of human behavior across cultures, it does not necessarily endorse the moral legitimacy of all observed moral systems.